Tap mounting and closure means for barrels and like containers



Jan. 24, 1939. A. L. MAGGENTI 2,145,121

TOP MOUNTING AND CLOSURE MEANS FOR BARRELS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 27, 19 37 -F J's-l. F 121E:

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAP MOUNTING AND CLOS URE MEANS FOR BARRELS- AND LIKE CONTAINERS 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to a tap or faucet mounting and closure means for barrels and like containers, and more particularly to a combined closure and mounting means which will facilitate 5. the mounting of a tap or faucet upon a barrel,

cask or other like container with a screw threaded connection.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple and novel means for mounting a threaded tap or faucet upon a barrel, cask or like container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a threaded tap supporting means for a barrel or cask, having means associated therewith, by which the barrel or cask may be closed and sealed for transit when the threaded tap or faucet is not mounted therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and novel tap mounting means for a barrel or the like, having a closure means which may be sealed in its closed position to protect the contents of the barrel when the latter is in transit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure means for a tap mounting of the character described, in which the closure means is held in a non-interfering position when a. tap is threaded into the tap mounting.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be in part evident to those skilled in the art, and in part pointed out hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown, by way of illustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing my improved tap mounting and closure means as it appears when mounted upon the end of a barrel or cask,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the details of the tap mounting and closure means illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tap mounting with its associated closure means in an open position.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown an embodiment thereof which is particularly adapted for application to awooden barrel or cask, such as is commonly used for the transportation of wines and liquors.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the tap mounting means is positioned upon the head of a barrel l closely adjacent its staves ll. When applied to a barrel as shown, the tap mounting is covered by a concealing plate i2 having hinge forming ears l3 at the upper edge thereof, and hinged upon the ears l3 there is a cover or closure member I4 which cooperates, as will hereinafter appear, with the tap mounting means to seal the barrel when in transit. At the lower end of the plate i2 there is an outwardly extending protuberance l5 that is adapted to pro- 5 ject through an opening it at the free end'of the closure member 14, and extending transversely through a hole in the protuberance l5 there is a pin H, by means of which the closure member l4 may be secured in its closed position upon the plate l2. The pin I! may be of any suitable character. For example, it may be a straight pin or, if desired, it may be in the form of a wedge that will tightly hold the closure member in its barrel closing position. To prevent tampering with the contents of the barrel, '1 may also provide an aperture in the end of the pin I! through which the wires of a lead seal 18 may be extended. When such a seal I3 is provided, the contents of the barrel will be protected 20 against dilution and/or tampering when in transit.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 of the drawing for a more detailed description of the invention. As shown in this figure of the drawing, the tap mounting means comprises an internally threaded bushing I9 which extends through an opening 28 in the barrel head Ill, and as shown, it carries an outer bushing of rubber 2| that insures a tight fit between'the barrel head and the bush- 30 ing 19 at this point. The outer end of the bushing l9 has an enlarged irregular or hexagonal head portion 22 in which there is formed a recess seat 23 for a rubber or cork gasket 24. The hexagonal head 22 of the bushing l9 may be recessed into the head ID of the barrel so as to prevent a turning thereof, as when a tap is screwed therein, or it may be extended outwardly beyond the surface of the barrel head l0 and recessed into the plate l2, as shown at 25. In this latter event, when the plate !2 is secured upon the barrel head H], as by wood screws 26, the bushing 19 will be firmly held in the head I!) of the barrel. With this arrangement it will be seen that when the closure member I4 is in its open position, a tap or faucet (not shown) may be readily screwed {into the internally threaded bushing IE to withdraw the contents of the barrel therethrough.

For the purpose of effectively sealing the barrel, as when in transit, the closure member M is provided with an inwardly extending portion 21 that extends through a central opening in the plate [2 and engages the gasket 24, previously referred toas mounted at the outer end of the tap mounting bushing l9. When the closure member [4 is thus positioned upon the plate l2 and secured in place by means of the pin I1, as described in connection with Figure 1 of the drawing, the contents of the barrel will be prevented from escaping through the tap mounting. As an additional sealing means to prevent the accidental loss of liquid, I may also provide a rubber gasket at each side of the plate l2. One such rubber gasket, designated by the numeral 28, is shown as disposed between the plate l2 and the barrel head l0, and another similar gasket 29 is shown as disposed between the outer surface of the plate I2 and the hinged closure member M.

For the purpose of holding the closure member M in a position where it will be out of interfering relation with a tap when mounted upon the barrel, I provide a spring 39 at the hinged connection between the plate !2 and the closure member M. This spring 39 is arranged to exert an opening bias upon the closure member M and it is of suflicient strength to firmly hold the closure member M in an elevated position, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, when it is not secured in its barrel closing position upon the plate l2, as previously described.

While it is permissible to use a metal tap or faucet with certain liquors, such as are transported in barrels, there is a disposition to avoid the use of metal, and particularly corrosive metals in connection with wine barrels, and therefore, in order to provide a tap mounting which will be free of this objection, I form my tap mounting bushing IQ of porcelain or glass, and if desired, I may also place a non-corrosive facing 3i upon the inner end of the projection 2? of the closure member I 4. When such a facing 3! is provided, it will be seen that the contents of the barrel will be held out of contact with all metal parts of the closure and mounting memher. As an alternative form, it is also contemplated that I may construct the bushing l9 and the other parts of my improved mounting means of a non-corrosive metal.

Upon referring back to Figure 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that the plate l2 and the hinged closm'e member M are made relatively thin, and as a result, these members will be protected by the projecting ends of the staves H when the barrel is placed on its end.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose my invention so that the same can be readily "understood, described and illustrated a specific device and arrangement, I desire to have it understood that this invention isnot limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a tap mounting for a barrel or the like, the combination of an internally threaded nonmetallic bushing adapted to be inserted in the wall of a wooden container, said bushing having an irregular shape at its outer end, a plate disposed over the end of said bushing and secured upon the wall of the container, said plate having a central opening through which a tap may be threaded into said bushing and a recess of irregular shape for the end of said bushing, whereby said bushing will be held against turning when a tap is threaded therein, and a hinged closure member mounted upon said plate having a central portion adapted to engage and close the open end of said bushing when the tap mounting is not in use.

2. In a tap mounting for a barrel or the like, the combination of an independent internally threaded non-corrosive bushing adapted to be inserted through the wall of a barrel and receive a screw-threaded tap, said bushing having an enlarged head of irregular shape at its outer end interlocking with the wall of the barrel to prevent a turning thereof when the tap is screwed therein, a plate for holding said bushing against displacement from the wall of said barrel having a central opening through which the tap may extend when screwed upon said bushing, and a hinged closure member mountedupon said plate having a non-corrosive portion adapted to engage and close the threaded opening of said bushing when the tap is removed therefrom.

3. In a tap mounting for a barrel or like container, the combination of a container, an internally threaded bushing disposed in and extending through a wall of said container, said bushing having a shoulder at its outer end of irregular shape recessed in the wall of said container to prevent a turning thereof, a retaining plate for said bushing secured to the wall of said container independently of said bushing and having a central opening through which a tap carried by said bushing may extend, a closure member hingedly mounted upon said retaining plate and having a portion extending through the central opening in said retaining plate and engaging said bushing to close the threaded opening thereof when the tap is removed therefrom, and means carried by said plate for securing said closure member in its closed position to thus seal the opening through said bushing.

ALBERT LOUIS MAGGENTI. 

